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{{use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=November 2016}}
{{Infobox former country
| common_name = Kuninda Kingdom
| conventional_long_name = Kuninda Kingdom
| image_map=Indian tribes between the Indus and the Ganges.jpg
|image_map_caption=Location of Kuninda relative to other groups: the [[Audumbaras]], the [[Vemaka]]s, the [[Vrishni]]s, the [[Yaudheya]]s, the [[Paurava]]s and the [[Arjunayana]]s.
| year_start = Before 2nd century BCE
| year_end = 3rd century
| government_type = monarchy
| capital =
| p1 =
| s1 =
| today = [[India]]
}}
[[Image:KunindaCoin.JPG|thumb|upright=1.5|Silver coin of the '''Kuninda''' Kingdom, c. 1st century BCE. These coins followed the [[Indo-Greek]] module.<ref>"A Maharaja named Amoghabhuti, who was the Raja of the Kunindas, is known from coins of the Indo-Greek module with legends sometimes in both Brahmi and Kharoshthi, but in some cases in Brahmi only." in ''The History and Culture of the Indian People'', Volume 2 by Ramesh Chandra Majumdar, 1951, page 161</ref><br />'''Obv:''' Deer standing right, crowned by two cobras, attended by [[Lakshmi]] holding a [[Sacred lotus|lotus]] flower. Legend in [[Prakrit]] ([[Brāhmī script|Brahmi]] script, from left to right): ''Rajnah Kunindasya Amoghabhutisya maharajasya'' ("Great King [[Amoghabhuti]], of the Kunindas").<br />'''Rev:''' [[Stupa]] surmounted by the [[Buddhist]] symbol [[triratna]], and surrounded by a [[swastika]], a "Y" symbol, and a tree in railing. Legend in [[Kharoshti]] script, from right to left: ''Rana Kunidasa Amoghabhutisa Maharajasa'', ("Great King Amoghabhuti, of the Kunindas").]]
[[File:Kunindas coin with Chaitya.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Another Kuninda coin.]]
[[File:Kunindas with Shiva.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|Coin of the Kunindas.<br />'''Obv''' [[Shiva]] standing with battle-axe trident in right hand and leopard skin in left hand. Legend ''Bhagavato Chatreswara Mahatana''.<br />'''Rev''' Deer with symbols.]]
[[File:Shiva with trident Kuninda 2nd century.jpg|thumb|Shiva with trident, Kuninda, 2nd century CE.]]

The '''Kingdom of Kuninda''' (or '''Kulinda''' in ancient literature) was an ancient central [[Himalaya]]n kingdom documented from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century, located in the southern areas of modern [[Himachal Pradesh]] and far western areas of [[Uttarakhand]] in northern [[India]].

==Kingdom==
The history of the kingdom is documented from around the 2nd century BCE. They are mentioned in Indian epics and [[Purana]]s. The subhankar relates they were defeated by [[Arjuna]].

One of the first kings of the Kuninda was Amoghbhuti, who ruled in the mountainous valley of the [[Sutlej]] and [[Yamuna]] rivers (in today's southern [[Himachal]] and far western [[Uttarakhand]] in northern India).

The Greek historian [[Ptolemy]] linked the origin of the Kuninda to the country where the rivers [[Beas]], [[Sutlej]], [[Yamuna]] and [[Ganges]] originate.<ref>Ptolemy, ''Geography'' 7.1.42: ὑπὸ δὲ τὰς Βιβάσιος καὶ τοῦ Ζαράδρου καὶ τοῦ Διαμούνα καὶ τοῦ Γάγγου ἡ Κυλινδρινή, "and enclosed by the [[Beas River|Bibasis]], the [[Sutlej|Zaradros]], the [[Yamuna|Diamuna]], and the [[Ganges]] is Kylindrinē."</ref>

One of the [[Edicts of Ashoka]] on a pillar is also present at Kalsi, in the region of [[Garhwal Kingdom|Garhwal]], indicating the spread of Buddhism to the region from the 4th century BCE.

The Kuninda kingdom disappeared around the 3rd century, and from the 4th century, it seems the region shifted to [[Shaivite]] beliefs.

==Coinage==
There are two types of Kuninda coinage, the first one issued around the 1st century BCE, and the second around the 2nd century CE. The first coins of the Kuninda were influenced by the numismatic model of their predecessor [[Indo-Greek kingdom]]s, and incorporated Buddhist and Hindu symbolism such as the [[triratna]] and images of [[Lakshmi]]. These coins typically follow the [[Indo-Greek]] weight and size standards ([[drachm]]s, of about 2.14 g in weight and 19 mm in diameter), and their coins are often found together with Indo-Greek coins in hoards, such as those of the [[Yaudheyas]], or the [[Audumbaras]].

The finds of Kuninda coins have often been associated with finds of Indo-Greek coins, particularly those of [[Apollodotus I|Appolodotus]].<ref name="Bhattacharyya">[https://books.google.com/books?id=8EJw6O4VFFsC&pg=PA156 ''A pageant of Indian culture: art and archaeology'' by Asoke Kumar Bhattacharyya p.156''ff'']</ref>

A very large portion of the Kuninda coins are in the name of king [[Amoghabhuti]], and it is believed that coinage under his name continued after his death.<ref name="Bhattacharyya"/>

Some later coins of the 2nd century CE bear the symbol of the Hindu god [[Shiva]].<ref name="Bhattacharyya"/>

==Rulers==
* [[Amoghabhuti]] (late 2nd century-1st century BCE)

==See also==
* [[Indo-Greek Kingdom]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.vohuman.org/Article/Kharoshti%20Script.htm Scripts in Kuninda coinage]
{{Middle kingdoms of India}}

{{Himachal Pradesh}}
{{Uttarakhand}}

[[Category:Empires and kingdoms of India]]
[[Category:History of Uttarakhand]]
[[Category:Kingdoms in the Puranas]]
[[Category:2nd-century BC establishments]]
[[Category:3rd-century disestablishments]]

Kuninda Kingdom - Revision history

imported>TompaDompa at 17:28, 28 July 2021